The developer used a few tricks and the Face ID sensors to turn his face transparent

Face ID, the most popular feature of iPhone X, attracted everyone’s interest this year. Starting with all the possibilities it offers to the users to some security breaches, it remained in the spotlight during the last months of 2017. Now, a Japanese developer managed to perform a surprising but apparently useful trick with Face ID, which looks both disturbing and funny. He erased his face with the tool, and recorded a video to show how this is possible.

The developer made his face transparent

Kazuya Noshiro, or @noshipu, is a video game developer for ViRD. He knew how the sensors used by Face ID can be used in gaming, as well as for art or other visual apps. This is why he decided to play with them and revealed some more quirky things you can do with them.

In a ten-second video he posted on Twitter, he showed us how he used the Face ID sensors to erase his face almost completely. The only things that remained visible were his eyes and mouth, which kept moving, creating an eerie image. He described the trick as optical camouflage, and said he couldn’t really tell if it had any practical use.

He used several tricks with the help of the Face ID sensors

To the disappointment of the viewers, he didn’t explain how he did the trick. However, he still offered some clues. One user asked him if he recorded the background before using the Face ID sensors to scan his face, and he admitted that was true.

If he covered his face and eyes while recording the face, he could place the background over his face and make it look transparent. Thanks to the sensors of the phone, he could sync the recordings with the movement of the camera and make everything look real.

This was a great example of what the iPhone X could do. Such sensors are likely to be widely used in the future, not only because of security systems like Face ID, but also for entertainment or creative purposes.

The exclusive new Xbox console, Xbox One X, has been out for a few months now, so developers have started releasing updates to suit the capacities of the powerful gaming system. Witcher 3 is one of those games, and the new version has plenty of advantages over the PC one. The performance is a lot better and, of course, 4K graphics are included as well.

The Witcher 3 update introduced HDR support

If you own a sophisticated PC, then your version of Witcher 3 must have adjusted similarly to the newest update. Xbox One X is about as powerful as a PC, so the game features are also similar. However, the console version offers more. It has HDR support, while the other one doesn’t. Then, the graphics, textures, and resolution per se are the same.

Of course, don’t expect the two versions to be completely identical. The console and the PC still offer different environments, so there are some elements which are present only in the PC version. Take, for instance, the NVIDIA HairWorks. However, the developers decided to include HDR support in Witcher 3 only on the Xbox One X version.

The new graphics and features have been modeled after Xbox One X’s power

The update will bring a bigger visual impact to the game. The console is probably the most powerful which has been released to date, so the developers couldn’t miss the chance to take advantage of it. Therefore, Witcher 3 will come with two options which are available for graphics.

One of the options is a Regular Mode, which runs on normal graphics and resolution. The Performance Mode, apart from boosting the speed of the game, will also increase the resolution. This will run on a minimum of 1080p, and can easily switch to 4K. Moreover, it will display shadows and textures in a more sensitive way, and the entire look will get enhanced.Image Source: Flickr

DrDisRespect will stop making live streams for an undetermined period of time

Twitch users were amazed to find out that one of the most popular streamers, DrDisRespect, or Doc for his followers, will stop recording live streams. His decision is not permanent, but he now wants to dedicate more time to his family. This was somehow expected, as he admitted to cheating on his wife during the same video where he announced his break.

DrDisRespect took a break from streaming

DrDisRespect shocked his fans with one unusual stream which had nothing to do with gaming. Instead of recording himself while playing, he appeared as his alter ego Guy Beahm (which is actually his real identity). Then, he decided to discuss serious subjects, and revealed he wanted to be honest with his followers.

He declared himself grateful for his beautiful family, but a shadow obscured his marriage. He admitted to having cheating on his wife, which forced him to enter a hiatus. He said he needed more time for himself, to spend with his family. This way, maybe he would be able to save his marriage and apologize to his wife.

The streamer admitted to having cheated on his wife

DrDisRespect apologized to all his fans, to those who sponsor him, and to the platform Twitch. He didn’t want to upset anybody, but doesn’t support such a behavior. Therefore, he felt he needed to clarify some things and encourage people not to act like that.

The reactions to this confession video were both positive and negative. Some users blamed him for his behavior towards his wife, while others showed their admiration for him. Fans will keep supporting him, and are happy he was brave enough to publicly admit his deeds.

Over the past year, many YouTube streamers and fans started claiming that DrDisRespect was unfaithful. Although they didn’t offer any evidence to support this claim, some said Doc finally decided to admit his infidelity because of these declarations.

Many video games contain sexual elements even if their target is not an adult audience, but Steam is well-known for being excessively strict with such content. As a result, the platform decided to remove the horror game You Must Be 18 or Older to Enter after regarding many of its elements as pornographic.

Steam is strict with any kind content of sexual nature

Many developers and players have noticed that Steam isn’t quite ok with sexual content. However, the platform didn’t issue a complete ban on such elements, so what was left for developers to do now is wait and see which games got removed.

The game You Must Be 18 or Older to Enter, developed by SeeminglyPointless, there was quite a lot of pornographic content. This was represented by in-game elements, depicted as ASCII artworks present on the main character’s computer. Some of these artworks were partially blurred, as the protagonist was trying to view them without getting caught by his parents.

You Must Be 18 or Older to Enter got banned for a series of blurry images regarded as porn

One of the creators of You Must Be 18 or Older to Enter, James Cox, was taken by surprise to find about the removal. In fact, he found out what happened only when several players complained about not finding the game on Steam. He checked the situation with the platform, and found the game was now characterized as porn. As a result, it was removed.

Cox hopes Steam will reconsider its decision, but he doesn’t have much hope. When it comes to pornography or anything that’s too explicit, the platform is always strict. However, this unclear policy to what is allowed or not is confusing for most video game developers. For instance, games where sexual elements are essential for the plot have been published in uncensored versions, while You Must Be 18 or Older to Enter was regarded as unacceptable.Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

This year might be almost over, but there are still astronomical shows to watch. This month’s meteor shower is the Geminids, which has already started producing bright meteors on the night sky on December 4th. These will remain visible up until December 14th, but the peak of the event will occur in the night between December 13th and December 14th.

The Geminids, one of the brightest meteor showers

The setting is perfect to offer us a spectacular show. When the Geminids will reach their peak, the night sky will appear particularly dark. The moon will be barely visible, as it will only be in the early stages of the crescent, while Jupiter will be situated somewhere south of this moon.

The Geminids, just as their name says, come from the constellation of Gemini. The meteors should appear everywhere in the sky but, if you want to make sure you get the best view, it’s better to look south of the constellation. Also, it doesn’t matter where you live, as the shower should be visible anywhere.

This meteor shower is slightly different from the others

Usually, meteor showers are produced when the traces left by comets light up when getting close to Earth. This time, the Geminids are made up of asteroid debris. Once every 1.4 years, the asteroid 3200 Phaeton comes close to Earth. Each time, it leaves a trail of space junk behind. Every year, our planet passes through this field of debris, and the ice and rock pieces light up whenever they enter our atmosphere.

The best moment of the night to view the Geminids is before dawn, but you can get a beautiful view of them any time after midnight. This meteor shower is one of the most active of the year, so you should get some of the most beautiful pictures of the year. Make sure you choose a place in the rural area, or where there aren’t many artificial light sources to disturb you, and enjoy the show.Image Source: Flickr

Snapchat doesn’t want to lose any of its users, so it’s constantly trying to give them something fun to do any time they use the app. The latest update includes a series of new stickers, which are based on the objects included in snaps. This means that, now, the app can recognize what’s in an image, and offer suitable stickers for it.

The new stickers suit the objects in the snaps

Snapchat has issued a big redesign of the app which brings plenty of improvements. Users were able to see the changes starting with last week, when they noticed how the app can now tell what objects are present in an image. Then, it recommended them a series of stickers or borders they could apply to their snaps which suited these objects.

There’s nothing different that users have to do to apply these stickers. After taking a photo, they will appear in the filter grid and, by scrolling among them, they can find images and decorations which they can apply on their photos. The items recognized by the photo belong to several fields, including pets, food, concerts, beaches, or sports.

The creative filters are Snapchat’s way to keep users engaged

Also, there’s nothing more they should do to get these special stickers than take photos which suit the above categories. After trying the new feature, several users were recommended filters containing animal-related puns on photos of their pets, or commentaries regarding diets on photos of food.

These stickers are an addition to the already existent smart filters. These filters could add temperature, speed, time, or location in one’s snap, and now things can get a lot more creative. However, apart from being fun, these snap decorations are an important source of revenue for Snapchat. Different companies can sponsor filters, which are usually available to users according to their location.Image Source: Pixabay

The brightness of night lights has a terrible effect on the environment

Looking at Earth from space will display a breathtaking show of brightly-shining night lights which are guaranteed to impress anyone. However, the more beautiful they look from up there, the more dangerous they are. As cities expand, night becomes less dark, and this can have terrible consequences on our environment.

Night lights have become brighter

Year after year, Earth becomes brighter during night. While you might see it as a beautiful display of glimmers, the show is actually extremely bad for the environment. The quick expansion of cities affects night, which starts feeling less like a night and more like a darker day. There’s no need to mention this greatly affects animals and plants, which need a period of darkness and rest.

To assess how acute this problem is, NASA used a radiometer to discover how bright are these night lights. This device also helped the scientists see how this brightness changed over time. Rich countries have become more careful with the environment, and switched from regular to LED lights, which are more eco-friendly.

Nocturnal animals have a lot to suffer because of artificial lights

Therefore, NASA expected these countries to have turned less bright. Unfortunately, they noticed no difference, while some countries appeared even brighter than before. What is even more worrying is the fact that even poorer countries saw a development of night lights. There have been only two countries in the entire world with a decrease in the light intensity, Syria and Yemen, which are currently fighting wars.

If the night becomes less dark, animals and plants have a lot to suffer. Nocturnal birds can no longer migrate properly, the activity of nocturnal insects gets disturbed and they aren’t pollinating properly, while trees from extremely bright areas bloom earlier than they should. Therefore, scientists call for a reduction of night lights before it’s too late.Image Source: Flickr

Google Maps is the most popular app people use to locate places or get directions. However, this doesn’t mean its aspect is the best, since the design might seem a bit complicated, and hard to understand if it’s the first time when you use the app. Therefore, Google decided it was time to improve the interface.

Google Maps gets more flexible to your needs

With the new interface, Google Maps wants to be more flexible. This means it will adapt to the traveling methods used by people, so that it might offer them the information they want. In other words, according to the means of transportation you use, you will see the maps differently.

If you are looking for a route and want to ride the bus, Google Maps will highlight each stop. If you want to visit a city and go by foot, each landmark monument or institution will appear bigger. When driving in your own car, you might want to know where gas stations or parking spaces are. Also, it will be easier than ever to tell each type of location apart, as every type will be featured in a different color.

Locations are now easier to find

This is a great change to make, since it was really hard to tell a coffee shop apart from a hospital. Now, the first will be colored in orange, while everything related to health goes pink. The shopping centers will keep the blue color, and all entertainment locations will appear in green.

If you’re impatient to try the new look of Google Maps, then you should expect the update to roll out over the next weeks. Also, the same changes will be applied to all the other apps which make use of the Maps, such as Google Earth, Google Assistant, or Android Auto.Image Source: Max Pixel

Sheep are incredibly intelligent animals with some impressive social skills. Previous research on the behavior of these animals showed that they could recognize the faces of other sheep. This led to another question, and researchers started wondering if they were as good with human faces as well. The results were surprising, as it turned out they were.

Can sheep recognize faces?

The initial purpose of the research was to look at the effects of Huntington’s disease on sheep. One of the symptoms of this condition in humans is their inability to recognize faces. However, researchers couldn’t tell if these animals could really recognize human faces, so they decided to investigate this first.

For the study, the sheep were shown two images of human faces, one of a celebrity, and the other one of a similar-looking person. If they chose the right one, they would receive a reward in the form of food. However, if they opted for the wrong one instead, the researchers would issue a noise, and then the animals would be forced to wait.

This way, they quickly learned they had to choose the picture which displayed a celebrity. After a few attempts, they could tell which image was the one of the celebrity, even if the person in the other image looked really similar, belonged to the same ethnicity, and had the same gender. Then, the tasks got harder.

Sheep are some extremely intelligent animals

The researchers switched the angle of the celebrity’s face, and displayed images of these people in different positions. This way, they wanted to see if sheep could understand the entire concept of a face, both in 2D and in 3D, rather than just memorizing a picture. Among the celebrities the animals had to identify, there was Barack Obama, Jake Gyllenhaal, or Emma Watson, but also their caretakers. All the time, they chose the right image.

Sheep are extremely intelligent animals, with impressive social skills. This might seem unlikely, given the well-known phenomenon of herd mentality. However, whenever an individual is taken out of the group, it can surprise us with its remarkable cognitive skills. This study has been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

NASA is currently working on a new Mars exploration mission, and is developing a new rover to better explore the surface of the planet. This new rover, which is scheduled for launching in 2020, will be a lot more advanced than its predecessors. It will be able to send back high-quality images and photos, as researchers had equipped it with 23 cameras.

The new rover has an impressive number of 23 cameras

The exploration of Mars will reach a whole new level in 2020, when NASA will send its brand new rover to roam the surface of the Red Planet. This rover promises a lot more images, thanks to the 23 new cameras it will be equipped with.

All these cameras will deal with identifying formations on the surface or making various calculations depending on what the rover meets in its way. This means that, apart from capturing images and sending them back to Earth, it can identify different obstacles on the way and calculate the its own trajectory.

It will produce the most detailed images ever captured on Mars

Also, it can analyze the composition of the atmosphere, and will start sending images even before landing on Mars. All of these pictures will benefit from 3D imaging techniques, and should feature a lot more color than those captured by Curiosity or by other previous rovers. They should have about 20 megapixels and the highest resolution ever seen in Mars photos.

However, there is a small issue with such a high-tech equipment. It will collect a huge amount of data, which is a bit too much for it to be easily sent to Earth. Therefore, it will have to compress all these images so that they won’t require too many resources to be transmitted. Then, the rover will use other spacecrafts flying in the area to take some of its information load and make its task easier.Image Source: Wikimedia Commons